How to schedule a scan in Microsoft Defender Antivirus on Windows 10

Starting with Windows 10 version 2004, Windows Defender Offline was renamed to Microsoft Defender Offline.

About Microsoft Defender Antivirus

Microsoft Defender Antivirus helps protect your PC against malware (malware) such as viruses, spyware and other unwanted software. Malware can infect a PC without your knowledge: It can install itself from an email, when you connect to the Internet, or when you install certain applications using USB, CD, DVD or media. Other portable facilities. Some malware can also be programmed to run at unexpected times, not just when it is installed.

Windows Defender Antivirus regularly scans the device to help keep it safe. Windows tries to do this while you are not using the device so it doesn't interfere with your work. You can also schedule Windows Defender Antivirus to scan at the desired time and frequency.

This tutorial will show you how to schedule a scan in Microsoft Defender Antivirus on Windows 10.

How to schedule a scan in Microsoft Defender Antivirus on Windows 10

Here's how:

1. Press the Win+ keys Rto open Run , type taskchd.msc into Run and click OK to open Task Scheduler.

2. Expand the Task Scheduler Library> Microsoft> Windows folder in the left pane of Task Scheduler and click on the Windows Defender folder .

3. Double click on the Windows Defender Scheduled Scan task in the middle pane of Task Scheduler.

Double click on the Windows Defender Scheduled Scan task

4. Click the Triggers tab and click the New button .

5. Perform the following actions to create a new trigger:

A) Select On a schedule in the Begin the task drop-down menu .

B) Select One time, Daily, Weekly or Monthly for the frequency you want to scan.

C) Select the time you want to scan in Start.

D) Click OK when done.

Create a new trigger

6. You will now see the new scheduled tasks listed. If you want to delete a scheduled task, you will select the task you want to delete and click the Delete button .

New scheduled tasks are listed

7. Click the Conditions tab , select or deselect the Power settings below to know what you want and click OK.

1. Start the task only if the computer is on AC power
   
   1. Stop if the computer switches to battery power
2. Wake the computer to run this task

Select or deselect Power settings

8. You can now close Task Scheduler if you like.